Display device



July 30, 1963 G. R. ODAY 3,099,354

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 22, 1961 i i 3 Z INVENTOR.

Mm GEORGE R. 0' DAY l9 3. BY F163 ATTORNEY 3,099,354 DISPLAY DEVICEGeorge R. ODay, Decatur, Ga, assignor to The Mead Corporation, acorporation of (thin Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,580 9 Claims. (Cl.211--49) This invention relates to display devices and more particularly to a unitary collapsible structure adapted for assembly withone or more similar units to form a composite device of a desired sizeand capacity.

It is customary as a retail marketing practice to form a display ofconsumer items by means of a display stand upon which items to be soldare stacked in layers. The general magnitude of a particular promotiontogether with the size of the item to be sold and the floor spaceavailable are some of the considerations by which the size of the standis ordinarily determined.

Display devices thus are used in connection with a particular productand then may be stored for later use perhaps as a means of promoting thesale of a different product and most, if not all, presently knowndisplay devices are of a fixed size and their use is thus limited to alimited number of items to be sold and many such devices are cumbersometo handle and to transport. Therefore a single user must presently use avariety of sizes and shapes of displays to satisfy various retail marketlocations.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved basicdisplay unit which is adaptable for easy and quick assembly with otherlike units to form a composite display device of a desired size therebyto accommodate displayed items of different sizes and to satisfy therequirements of a variety of space conditions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a basic displaydevice which is specially adapted for easy storage and transport andwhich does not require special procedures peculiar to a particularinstallation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a standardizedcollapsible display device which is specially adapted to form aparticularly stable stack of items to be displayed.

The invention in one form as applied to a display device comprises abase which is tilted backwards somewhat to aid in securely holding thedisplayed items against accidental dislodgement, a back hingedly mountedto the back top edge of the base so that the weight of the itemsdisplayed on the base tends to rotate the back forward toward the baseabout the hinged connection therebetween thereby to oppose the forceagainst the back due to the weight of the displayed items and thus torender the display unit and its displayed items inherently stable.According to a facet of the invention, the units are provided along eachside with complementary disjointable locking slots and tabs of differentlengths whereby two or more units may be quickly assembled into areadily collapsible composite structure. According to another feature ofthe invention the back is provided with a plurality of slots to whichseparating means may be adjustably secured, the separating means beingdisposed between layers of dis played items, thereby to adapt the devicefor use with items to be displayed which are of different heights. Ifdesired, fastening means may be used to hold the back and base in theirnormal service positions relative to each other.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a displaydevice constructed according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a compositedevice formed by securing into a unitary structure a pair of devicessuch as are depicted in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side view of a unit such asis depicted in FIG. 1, but showing the parts in their collapse-dpositions; FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view in cross-section depictingthe back of the base and the bottom of the back; FIG. 4A is a view takenon on FIG. 4; FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 and showingthe parts comprising the hinge between the back and base; FIG. 6 is aview of a locking tab and locking slot constructed according to theinvention taken on line 66 of FIG. 2. and by which the units of FIG. 2are held together; and in which FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of aportion of the back of the display device together with one separatingmeans by which a layer of displayed items is separated from a layerabove stacked thereon.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device generally depictedby the numeral 1 is shown in FIG. 2 as forming a part of a compositestructure in which the unit 1 is secured to a complementary similar unitgenerally designated by the numeral 2. Thus from FIGS. 1 and 2 it willbe apparent that the basic unit of the invention is depicted in FIG. 1and that a display stand of any desired size may be formed by securingtwo or more units in position as depicted in FIG. 2.

The display unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises a base element 3having its bottom in the form of a tilting projection by which it istilted back-ward. Stated otherwise, the vertical dimension X of the base3 in the front part 4 of the base is greater than the vertical dimensionY of the base 3 near the back 6. Hingedly secured as designated by thenumeral 5 to base 3 is a back structure 6. Both the base 3 and the back6 are in the form of box-like structures of substantial thickness as isevident from the drawings. Preferably, but not necessarily, the base 3and back 6 are constructed of sheet metal and are thus relatively lightin weight and sturdy in mechanical strength.

While any suitable hinged connection could be utilized, it is preferableto form in the back upper edge of base 3 the slots 7A and 713 to form acut-away portion such as is depicted in FIG. 5 by the numeral 7 and toform in the back structure a loop configuration such as is designated bythe numeral 8. The cut-away portion 7 is in practice forced inwardly toform a hinge defined by cut lines 7A and 7B and by fold lines 7C and 7D.Thus with the back in close proximity to the base the looped structure 8may be inserted into the cut-away portion 7 and a hinge pin 9 insertedas depicted in FIG. 5 to form the hinge. The hinged connection betweenthe base and back is thus formed by parts which are integral to the baseand back rather than separate hinge elements. Thus a degree ofsimplicity with a minimum of separate parts is achieved. From thedescription thus far it is apparent that the hinged connection betweenthe base 3 and the back 6 is formed along the back top edge of the base3 and that the lower extremity of the back 6 rests on the floor at thepoint designated by the letter Z in FIG. 3. Thus the weight of itemsresting on base 3 due to the tilt of the base tends to rotate the back 6toward the base 3 about the hinged connection 5 as a fulcrum. This facetof the invention is significant because the backward tilting of the base3 tends to prevent items displayed on the displayed device from fallingforwardly off the stand and onto the floor due to inadvertent jostlingby customers and the like. The fact that the weight of displayed itemsstacked on base 3 tends to rotate the back 6 forwardly toward the base 3imparts an element of stability to the display device and to the itemsstacked thereon.

While the weight of the items stacked on the tilted base 3 together withthe action of the hinge connection 5 between base 3 and back 6 tends toimpart stability to the device and to a display of displayed itemsstacked thereon, it ordinarily is preferable to provide removableholding means for securing the stack in position relative to a the base.Such holding mean-s may take the form of a plunger '11 which is slidably mounted on a pin 11A secured to back 6 and disposed to slide intocooperating U-shaped protrusion 12 which is disposed along the innersurface of the back wall of the base element 3. When in service positionthe protrusion extends into window 110 formed in back wall '6. Suchstructure is shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 4A. As an alternative oradditional removable holding means, a strut 14 may and 16 to the backand base respectively. In like fashion a complementary strut 17 may bemounted on the opposite sides of the base and back as depicted in FIG.1.

Additional stability may be achieved by forming complementaryembossments in the adjacent surfaces forming the back of the base andthe lower front part of the back.

Easy transport and economical storage of the device when not in use arereadily achieved since it is simply necessary to remove the bolts 15 and16 and thus to remove the strut 14 and in like fashion to remove theremovable holding means 17. Thereafter the bolt 11 is elevated and theback is swung about the hinge pin 9 .to the position depicted in solidlines in FIG. 3.

For the purpose of rendering the display device of FIG. 1 adaptable toaccommodate a larger number of items to be displayed it is onlynecessary to assemble the device as depicted in FIG. 1 except that theremovable holding means 17 is not used. Thereafter elements such as aredesignated generally by the numerals 1 and 2 in FIG. 2 are securedtogether by the locking tabs 18 and the cooperating locking slots 19shown enlarged in FIG. 6. In FIG. 1, three locking tabs 18 are showndisposed along the left-hand edge 6A of the back wall 6 and a single tabalong the left-hand side wall 3A of the base 3. It will be understoodthat locking tabs 18 are simply formed when a U-rshaped cut is made inthe side walls 6A and 3A respectively with the bight portion thereofpreferably disposed downwardly. As is shown in FIG. 3 threecomplementary locking slots 19 are disposed along the opposite edge 6Bof back 6 while a single complementary locking slot 19 is formed alongthe side wall 3B of the base 3. Thus in order to assemble a unit such as1 in close proximity to a unit such as 2, the locking tabs 18 of oneunit such as unit 2 are elevated slightly above and then lowered intothe locking slots 19 formed along the side walls 613 and 3B of a unitsuch as unit 1. When unit 2 is lowered into contact with the floor asecure junction between units such as 1 and 2 is effected. As an aid inassembling the composite structure depicted in FIG. 2, it is desirableto form the prongs 18A of the upper locking tab 18 some-what longer thanthe prongs 18B of the intermediate locking tab and to make the prongs18C of the lower prong 18 shorter than quickly and surely made on thefirst attempt, slots 19 are disposed to lie close to the bight portionsof the associated locking tabs when the composite device is assembled.If desired the same result could be achieved by putting the long prongsat the bottom and the shorter prongs above. Thereafter holding meanssuch as struts 14 and 17 may be mounted to the base and back as depictedin FIG. 2. Since the adjacent edge of units 1 and 2 do not have a strut14- and 17, stability is enhanced by the above described action by whichthe back is urged forward due to the Weight of displayed items.

While a display device of this invention is not limited to anyparticular type of separating structure arranged for disposition betweenlayers of items stacked on the base, the structure of this invention isparticularly adapted for use with self-coiling retractable shelving suchas is disclosed and claimed in United States Patent 2,852,143,

Taber, granted September 16, 1958. Such self-coiling retractablestructure is depicted schematically in FIG. 7 and comprises a layer 21secured by fastening means 22 to back 6. Thus with items such as softdrinks schematically depicted at 23 displayed on the display device, theseparating means 21 is disposed between layers of stacked items andimparts additional stability to the composite structure comprising thedisplay device and the items sacked thereon. As items from above areremoved the separati-ng means 21 according to the arrangement depictedin FIG. 7 may coil into the position depicted in dotted lines anddesignated by the numeral 24- as in Patent 2,852,143.

Thus in order to render the display device adaptable for use with itemsto be displayed which are of different heights it is desirable to mountthe separating means such as the self-coiling retractable separatingmeans 21 onto the back 6 in such a way that it may be adjustedvertically thereon. To this end, a plurality of slots 25 are formedalong the front wall 6C of the back 6. Thus fastening means 22 may beadjusted in a vertical direction by an amount substantially equal to thelength of slots 25. This vertically adjustable feature is particularlydesirable because it has become the practice to use containers such asbottles which are of different sizes and heights.

For the purpose of facilitating assembly of the separating means 21 viafastening means 22, it is desirable to form the slots 25 with anenlarged transverse portion 25A for receiving the enlarged head offastening means 22 as depicted in FIG. 9.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limitedthereto and intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A display stand comprising a base having an article supportingsurface tilted slightly backwardly, and a back hingedly secured to theback upper edge of said base, the lower extremity of said back beingsubstantially flush with the lower back edge of said base so that theweight of articles stacked on said base exerts a moment tending torotate said back toward said base about the hinged connectiontherebetween as a fulcrum thereby to impart stable characteristics tothe stand and to the articles displayed thereon.

2. A display stand comprising a base having an article supportingsurface tilted slightly backward ly, a back hingedly secured to the backupper edge of said base, the lower extremity of said back beingsubstantially flush with the lower back edge of said base so that theweight of articles stacked on said base exerts a moment tending torotate said back toward said base about the hinged connectiontherebetween as a fulcrum thereby to impart stable characteristics tothe stand and to the articles displayed thereon, at least one lockingtab along one side of said back and the corresponding side of said andat least one locking slot along the other side of 3. A display standcomprising a base having an article supporting surface tilted slightly:backwardly, a back hingedly secured to the back upper edge of saidbase, the lower extremity of said back being substantially flush withthe lower back edge of said base so that the weight of articles stackedon said base exerts a moment tending to rotate said back toward saidbase about the hinged colunecti-on tlhere'between as a fulcrum therebyto impart stable characteristics to the stand and to the articlesdisplayed thereon, a plurality of locking tabs disposed in verticallyspaced relation along one side of said back, at least one locking tabalong the corresponding side of said base, said locking tabs beinggenerally 'U-shaped with the prongs of the U being progressively longerin one vertical direction, a plurality of locking slots along the otherside of said back, and at least one locking slot along the other side ofsaid base, said locking tabs and slots forming disjointable fasteningmeans for adjoining said stand to an adj-acent complementary stand toform l3, wider composite display device.

4. A display stand comprising a base of substantial thickness, a backhingedly secured to the back upper edge of said base, a plurality oflocking tabs disposed in vertically spaced relation along one side ofsaid back, at least one locking tab along the corresponding side of saidbase, said locking tabs being generally U-shaped with the prongs of theU being progressively longer in one vertical direction, a plurality oflocking slots along the other side of said back, and at least onelocking slot along the other side of said base, said locking tabs andslots forming disjointable fastening means for adjoining said stand toan adjacent complementary stand to form a wider composite displaydevice.

5. A collapsible display stand comprising a box-like base of substantialthickness, a tilting projection formed along the bottom :of said base,said projection being effective to tilt the article supporting surfaceof said base backwardly somewhat, and a box-like back hingedly securedto the back upper edge of said base, said back being of substantialthickness and the lower extremity thereof being substantially flush withthe rear lower edge or said base, the weight of articles stacked on saidbase tending to rotate said back forwardly toward said base about thehinged connection t-herebetween thereby to compensate at least in partfor the force exerted on said back tending to rotate said back away fromsaid base due to engagement of said back by the articles on said basecaused by the tilt of said base.

6. A collapsible display stand comprising a box-like base of substantialthickness, a tilting projection formed along the bottom of said baseadjacent the front thereof, said projection being effective to tilt thearticle supporting surface of said base backwardly somewhat, a b ox likeback hingedly secured to the back upper edge of said base, said backbeing of substantial thickness and the lower extremity thereof beingsubstantially flush with the rear lower edge of said base, the weight ofarticles stacked on said base tending to rotate said back forwardlytoward said base about the hinged connection therebetween thereby tocompensate at least in part 'for any force exerted on said back due toengagement of said back by the articles on said base caused by the tiltof said base, and removable holding means for maintaining said base andsaid back in their normal service positions relative to each other.

7. A display stand comprising a base having an article supportingsurface tilted slightly backwardly, a back hingedly secured to the backupper edge of said base, the lower extremity of said back beingsubstantially flush with the lower back edge of said base so that theweight of articles stacked on said base exerts a moment tending torotate said back toward said base about the hinged connectiontherebetween as a fulcrum thereby to impart stable characteristics tothe stand and to the articles displayed thereon, and a plurality ofslots formed in the front surface of said back for adjustablypositioning a plurality of separators arranged for disposition betweenlayers of articles stacked on said base thereby to accommodate layers ofarticles of different heights.

8. A display stand according to claim 7 wherein said slots are formedwith an enlarged upper portion to (facilitate mounting said separatorson said back.

9. A display stand comprising a base, a back hingedly mounted adjacentthe rear of said base, said back being maintained normally in asubstantially vertical attitude, and a plurality of slots formed in saidback for adjustably positioning a plurality of separators arranged fordisposition between layers of articles stacked on said base thereby toaccommodate layers of articles of different heights.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A DISPLAY STAND COMPRISING A BASE HAVING AN ARTICLE SUPPORTINGSURFACE TILTED SLIGHTLY BACKWARDLY, AND A BACK HINGEDLY SECURED TO THEBACK UPPER EDGE OF SAID BASE, THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID BACK BEINGSUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE LOWER BACK EDGE OF SAID BASE SO THAT THEWEIGHT OF ARTICLES STACKED ON SAID BASE EXERTS A MOMENT TENDING TOROTATE SAID BACK TOWARD SAID BASE ABOUT THE HINGED CONNECTIONTHEREBETWEEN AS A FULCRUM THEREBY TO